Photoflash bulb supporting and ejecting means



May 13, 1952 c. F. BRUNDAGE PHOTOFLASH BULB SUPPORTING AND EJECTING'MEANS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed June 2, 1948 I INVENTOR. 6mm? 6 BY @J M J 44,

Patented May 13, 1952 PHOTOFLASH BULB SUPPORTING AND EJECTING MEANS Clinton F. Brundage, Macedon, N. Y., assignor to Graflex, Inc., Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application June 2, 1948, Serial No. 30,575

12 Claims.

This invention relates to photo-flash bulbsupporting and ejecting means with an adjustable reflector.

In order that the principle of the invention may be readily understood, I have disclosed a single embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the unit of my invention shown as applied to a flash synchronizer battery case;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, substantially central, vertical section, through the upper end of the battery case and through the reflector;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, transverse section through the said parts;

Fig. 4 is a detail partly in longitudinal section showing the central insulating member; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through Fig. 3, taken on the line 5-5 thereof.

The herein disclosed invention relates to a newunit for use with flashlamp battery cases for photographic purposes, and includes mounting means having a reflector with means for adjustment thereof, a socket for holding the flashlamp, and improved means for ejecting the flash bulb after use. I

It is often desirable to use the small wellknown bayonet-base type of flash bulbs in connection with the standard battery case. When using these small lamp bulbs, it is desirable, if indeed not wholly necessary, to provide a reflector designed especially for use with such lamp bulbs. It is further desirable to provide means for adjusting the reflector with respect to the central axis of the lamp in order to focus the beam produced by the lamp and the reflector over different areas.

This invention provides a new unit that readily converts and adapts the standard battery case to the herein disclosed type of operation. For illustrative purposes only, and without limiting my invention thereto, I show my invention mounted on a battery case, such as disclosed in the co-pending application of Jacobson, Bruifdage, and Moore, Ser. No. 22,614, filed April 22, 1948. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed unit or device can be used upon other battery cases having the same outside diameter.

The objects of this invention are to provide a reflector bulb-holding means that can be quickly attached or detached from a battery case, to provide means for adjusting the reflector with respect to the center axis of the flash bulb, to provide suitable means for ejecting the flash bulb after it has been fired, and to provide means for use with battery cases of a self-contained unit that can be readily attached to the battery case without the necessity of making any electrical connections other than those that are made automatically when the equipment is attached to the battery case and that can quickly be removed therefrom without in any way disturbing the battery case for its original use.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the batterycase is shown at 20. It may be any one of several well-known types but for purposes of illustration only, I have chosen to show my invention as attached to a battery case such as disclosed in the said co-pending application Ser. No. 22,614, of which I am one of the coinventors.

The body casting or housing shown at 2| is preferably made of any one of a number of suitable plastics. The reflector 22 is mounted on a cylindrical reflector-supporting sleeve or tube 23 that fits into the body casting or housing 2|. The sleeve 23 is attached to the reflector 22 by means of a shoulder on the said sleeve 23, which is indicated at 24 in Figs. 2 and 3. A suitable hole is provided in the reflector 22 to be fitted over the outer end of the sleeve 23, which is then spun over, as clearly indicated at 25, to hold the reflector 22 securely to the sleeve 23. The reflector 22 and the cylindrical reflectorsupporting sleeve 23 are adjustably mounted in the body casting or housing 2| and can be securely locked in any selected position by a clamp nut 26. securely clamped to the battery case 20 by means of a clamp nut 21. As shown in Fig. 2, into an opening provided in the housing 2|, indicated at 28, is fitted the said sleeve 23 having an elongated opening 29 through which passes a screw 30 riveted into the semi-cylindrically shaped shoe 3|. The said shoe 3|, the screw 30 and the clamp nut 26 constitute means for clamping the said sleeve 23 in any position of lengthwise adjustment within the limits of the slot 29 in said sleeve 23.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, therein is shown a detail partly in section of the lamp or bulb-carrying member made up of a molded body of insulating material and indicated at 32, one end of which is provided with an opening 33 to receive the base 34 of the lamp bulb 36. The said lamp bulb 36 is provided with retaining pins ,37, 31 for retaining the lamp bulb in the socket. The opening 33 is provided with a cam-like formation 38 on either The said body casting or housing 2| is side of the opening (one only of such formations being shown) to guide the retaining pins 31 into engagement with the latch members 39, regardless of how the lamp bulb is placed in the socket. The latch members 39 are fitted into lengthwise extending grooves or openings provided therefor in the lamp-carrying member 32. Each of the two latch members 39 (one on either side) terminates in a cylindrical formation 40 that fits onto a reduced diameter on the central insulating member 32 located at the left hand end of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

As most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch members 39 are provided with hook-like ends or fingers 39a for engaging the pins 31, 3'! of the lamp base 34. Each member 39 also has a cam formation 4| entering a recess or annular depression on the body member 32. Said cam formations are engaged by a member 42 that is U-shaped in section providing arms. 42a, 42a, and

occupies a space in the lamp or bulb-carrying member 32 under the respective latch members 33v which are of thin springy material, and are formed integrally with the single cylindrical formation 4D. Said arms 42a, 42a are. also herein defined as strap-like members.

Attached to the U-shaped member 42: is a push button 43. When pressure is applied to the push button 43, the U-shaped member 42 is moved. to the right, viewing Fig. 3, and its inner edge. engages the cam formations 4| of the latch members 39', thus withdrawing the hook-like ends or fingers 39a of the latch members 39 from engagement with the pins 31, 31 of the lamp bulb by forcing them radially outward. The said lamp 36 is provided with the usual contact 44 that is engaged by a contact member 45 located centrally in the lamp-carrying member 32. The contact member 45 is provided with a flange 46a to limit its motion in a right-hand direction. Viewing Fig. 4, the contact member 45 is caused to be moved in a right-hand direction and into contact with the lamp socket 34 by means of a coiled spring 46. When the button 43 is pressed, the lamp bulb 36 will be ejected from the socket 38 because of the coiled spring 43 and the contact member 45. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the left-hand end of the spring 43, viewing Figs. 2

and 3, engages a cylindrical spring block 41' that is fitted into a hole passing through the lampcarrying member 32.. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the spring block 4'1 is provided with a connecting member 48 that is threaded into a hole in the said block 41.

The connecting member 48 serves as an electrical path from a battery case contact member 49 that is provided in an insulating block 50 of the battery case 20. The said battery case contact member 49 is preferably the same spring loaded contact member that is found in all battery cases of this general construction and provides current to the connecting member 48, spring block 41, spring 46, contact member 45, lamp con tact 44 and to lamp 36.

The lamp-carrying member 32 is securely held in the body casting or housing 2| by means of screws 5|, one being shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and both being indicated in Fig. 3, and which pass through the cylindrical formation 49 of the latch members 39 and into the lamp-carrying member 32. Molded into the body casting or housing 2| is a conducting strip or member 52 that is held in contact with the cylindrical formation 49 of the latch members 39, and the opposite end of the said conducting strip or member 52 is provided with a threaded opening through which passes the clamp nut 21.

The clamp screw 21 is provided with an enlarged end 53 that engages the battery case 29. This provides means for completing a circuit from the battery case 29 to the latch member 39 through the connecting member 52 and screw 5| to the lamp base 34. When a circuit is completed to the contact member 49 of the battery case by the operation of a switch usually provided on thebattery case, current will flow through the contact member 49, connecting member 48, spring block 47:,spring 46, contact member 45, lamp or bulb contact 44, lamp 36, latch members 39, screws 5|, conducting member 52, screw 2i and screw point 53, back to the battery case 23, thus igniting the lamp bulb 36.

When the lamp bulb 36 is placed in the insulating member 32, the retaining pins 31 are guided into, position to be engaged by the spring member hooks 39a by the action ofthe guiding cam formations 38, and continued pressure will compress the, spring until the said pins 3"! are engaged by the. said; spring hook members 39a. The lamp bulb will be securely held. in position by the hook members 39a. After the lamp bulb 39 has been fired, pressure on the button 43 will cause the U-shaped member 42 and its arms 42a, 42a to be moved in a right-hand direction viewing Fig. 6 until the cam-like formations 4| are engaged by the said arms 42a, 42a of the U-shaped member 42, thus causing the latch members 39 and the latch hooks 39a to be displaced in an outward direction, thereby disengaging the hooks 39a from they pins 37'. The lamp bulb 36 will then be ejected by the contact, member 45 because of the compressed coiled spring 45.

It is often desirable to adjust the position of the reflector 22 with respect to the lamp bulb 36, in order to focus the light beam on a near or far position. This, is readily achieved by first loosening, the. clamp screw 23, and moving the reflector 22, to the desired position, after which the clamp screw 26 is again clamped. The sleeve 23 is desirably marked on its outer circumference to inbulbs and having ready means for adjusting the reflector position and improved means for ejecting the hot flash bulbs.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention. being set forth in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Photoflash lamp bulb supporting and ejecting means for photographic purposes, comprising in combination a housing having a tubular pro jection extending at substantially a right angle to the main body portion of the housing and fitted upon and secured to an end of a battery case or-the like, a removable lamp bulb-carrying member received within said main body member of said housing and having an open end directed outward at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the battery case, to receive a lamp bulb base, which lamp bulb base is provided with outwardly projecting retaining pins that co-act in retaining the lamp bulb in position, two opposite latch members received upon said bulb carrying member and having hook-like outer ends to engage and hold said retaining pins, said latch members having intermediate their ends inwardly extending cam formations, said latch members terminating at their ends opposite their hook-like ends in a cylindrical formation received upon said bulb carrying memceived in said recesses, to engage and to move said latch members radially outward by reason of their engagement with said cam formations, thereby to release said hook-like ends of said latch members from holding relation with the said retaining pins of said bulb base and lamp bulb ejecting means mounted within said lamp bulb carrying member and restrained from lamp bulb ejecting action by said retaining pins, but acting when said hook-like outer ends are disengaged from said retaining pins forcibly to eject said lamp bulb.

2. Photofiash lamp bulb supporting and ejecting means according to claim 1, wherein the said lamp bulb carrying member has a circumferential portion of reduced diameter to receive the said inwardly extending cam formations of the said latch members.

3. Photoflash lamp bulb supporting and ejecting means in accordance with claim'l, wherein the said lamp bulb ejector means includes a slidable contact to engage the usual terminal contact of the lamp bulb and a coiled spring behind said slidable contact and acting when released to force said slidable contact outwardly to said lamp bulb carrying member thereby forcibly to eject the lamp bulb.

4. Photofiash bulb supporting and ejecting means in accordance with claim 1, wherein the said lamp bulb ejecting means includes a slidable contact to engage the usual terminal contact of the lamp bulb, a coiled spring behind said slidable contact and of sufficient strength forcibly to eject the lamp bulb when said retaining pins are released, and a block behind said coiled spring, said block having a depending contact member adapted to enter the upper end of such battery case to make contact with the usual electrical contact therein.

5. Photofiash bulb supporting and ejecting means in accordance with claim 1, wherein said means mounted upon and longitudinally movable along said lamp bulb carrying member has a push button at its outer end opposite said lamp bulb, and extending through the outer wall of the said housing for engagement by the operator, to release the said lamp bulb and thereby forcibly to eject the same from its support.

6. Photofiash lamp bulb supporting and ejecting means in accordance With claim 1, wherein the said lamp bulb carrying member has upon its inner surface near its outer end, guiding cam formations corresponding in number to the said retaining pins, to guide said retaining pins into holding position.

'7. Supporting means for a photofiash lamp bulb which has a base having thereon a plurality iii) of outwardly-projecting, angularly-spaced retaining pins, said supporting means comprising a tubular housing having an open end to receive the lamp bulb base and also having an outer, surrounding, tubular housing provided with a tubular, flange-like formation extending from said outer housing so as to be received upon and secured to a photofiash battery case or the like, a plurality of angularly spaced resilient strap-like members mounted on said first mentioned tubular housing and each having a hook at one end to engage one of said retaining pins, each strap-like member having a radially inwardly extending formation intermediate its ends, and a member mounted on said first mentioned housing and slidable axially thereof to engage simultaneously the said formations of all the strap-like members to force them radially apart, thereby to release the hooks from holding relation with the retaining pins and lamp bulb ejecting means mounted Within said lamp bulb carrying member and restrained from lamp bulb ejecting action by said retaining pins, but acting when said hook-like outer ends are disengaged from said retaining pins, forcibly to eject the lamp bulb.

, 8. Supporting means for a photofiash lamp bulb which has a base having thereon a terminal electrical contact and a plurality of outwardlyprojecting, angularly-spaced retaining pins, said supporting means comprising a tubular housing having an open end to receive the lamp bulb baseand also having an outer, surrounding, tubular housing provided with a tubular, flange-like formation extending from said outer housing so as to be received upon and secured to a photofiash battery case or the like, a plurality of angularly-spaced resilient strap-like members mounted on said first mentioned tubular housing and each having a hook at one end to engage one of said retaining pins, each strap-like member having a radially inwardl extending formation on its inner face intermediate its ends, a member slidablymounted on said first mentioned housing inside the strap-like members to engage simultaneously the said formations of all the strap-like members, thereby to force said strap-like members outwardly apart, thereby to disengage the hooks from holding relation with the retaining pins, and an electrical contact slidably mounted in said first-mentioned housing radially inside said strap-like members and said slidable member, and spring means mounted in said first-mentioned housing to force said slidable electrical contact into contact with the terminal electrical contact of the lamp bulb base and having sufficient force to eject said lamp bulb base from said first-mentioned tubular housing when the hooks are disengaged from the retaining pins.

9. Supporting means for a photofiash lamp bulb which has a base having thereon a terminal electrical contact and which has two outwardly projecting circumferentially-spaced retaining pins, said supporting means comprising a housing, a body member secured in said housing and made of insulating material and having an open end to receive the lamp bulb base, a pair of circumferentially-spaced resilient metal straps secured in said housing and each having a hook at one end to engage and have electrical contact with one of said retaining pins, when the lamp bulb base is pushed into the open end of said body member, to retain said lamp bulb base in said body member, means mounted in said, housing for connecting said straps with one side of a source of electrical power, a plunger slidably mounted centrally in said body member radially inside said straps and constituting an electrical contact, a spring mounted in said body member to engage said plunger and to force said plunger into contact with said terminal electrical contact of said lamp bulb base, said spring and plunger being electrically conductive, and means mounted in said housing for connecting said spring and plunger electrically with the other side of said source of electrical power, and a member slidably mounted between said body member and said straps, for forcing said straps apart, thereby to disengage said hooks from holding relation with said retaining pins, said spring being powerful enough to cause said plunger to eject said bulb base from said body member when said hooks are disengaged from said retaining pins.

10. Supporting means for a photoflas-h lamp bulb in accordance with claim 9, wherein the said resilient metal straps to retain the lamp bulb base in the body member are each provided with radially-inward extending cam-like formations that are in operation engaged by the said slidably mounted member, thereby to force said metal straps apart.

11. Supporting means for a photofiash lamp bulb in accordance with claim 9, wherein the said member slidably mounted between the said body member and the said straps, has at the rear end thereof a push button extending out through a wall of the said housing so as to be accessible to the operator, for forcibly ejecting a used lamp base.

12. Supporting means for a photofiash lamp bulb which has a base having thereon a terminal electrical contact and which has at least one outwardly projecting retaining pin, said supporting means comprising a housing, a body member secured in said housing and made of insulating material and having an open end to receive the lamp bulb base, a resilient metal strap secured in said housing and having a hook at one end to engage and have electrical contact with such retaining pin when the lamp bulb base is pushed into the open end of said body member, to retain said lamp bulb base in said body member, means mounted in said housing for connecting said strap with one side of a source of electrical .power, a plunger slidably mounted centrally in said body member radially inside said strap and constituting an electrical contact, a spring mounted in said body member to engage said plunger and to force said plunger into contact with said terminal electrical contact of said lamp bulb base, said spring and plunger being electrically conductive, and means mounted in said housing for connecting said spring and plunger electrically with thev other side of said source of electrical power, and a member slidably mounted between said body member and said strap for forcing said strap outwardly thereby to disengage said hock from holding relation with said retaining pin, said spring being powerful enough to cause said plunger to eject said bulb basev from said body member when said hook is disengaged from said retaining pin.

CLINTON F. BRUNDAGE.

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